Reel for electric cables and the like



; Feb. 25, 1930. c, w FILBY 1,748,283

REEL FOR ELECTRIC CABLES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 7, 1928 JNVENTOR.

C gr/z orz WX/ z/Zy ATTORNEYS.-

l Patented Feb. 25,1930

cannon WARNER FILBY, or JEFFERSON, oriio OFFICE p FOR ELECTRIC CABLES AND THE LIKE Application filed September 7, 1928. Serial No. 304,491.

The present improvements have more partlcular regard to reels for electric cables and the like and such improvements are primarily directed to the provision of a winding apparatuswhich consists of a stationary drum and a mechanically operated arm for rewinding a cable which has been previously unwound from such drum, this arm during unwinding of'said cable operating to tension a spring which, when the cable is released re volves such arm in an operating direction to thereby rewind. the cable around such drum. Further features are a centrifugally operated brake which is effective to control and regulate the speed of said arm during rewinding, pawl means for holding the winding arm in any desired position, and-a guide which cooperates with the winding arm and is coaxially mounted with relation to the 2 winding drum and the shaft which supports said arm, this guide functioning to cause the cable to leave and approach the center of the reeling mechanism in order to insure that such cable will be unwound and rewound in the contemplated manner.

To the accomplishment of the-foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists-of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, suchdisclosedmeans constituting, however, but one-of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.' In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reeling apparatus embodying the present improvements; Fig. 2 is. a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section showing details of the arm operating spring and. associated parts; Fig. 4 is a plan view particularly showing the pawl means employed for holding the winding arm against rotation by the reeling s ring; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the centrifugal brake which prevents too rapid rotation'of thewinding arm; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified guide which may be used in place of that illustrated-in Figs. 1 and 2.

- and towards the winding drum 2.

As shown in the drawings, my invention consists of a base member 1, to which a drum 2 is attached by the radially extending brackets 3. Projecting in opposite directionsfrom the drum 2 are a pluralityof outwardly bent parts 4 which are connected b rings 5 and 6, such rings being somewhat arger in diameter than the drum 2, and together with the parts 4 forming a confining frame which A insures that the cable will reel inthe into tended manner. Centrally and detachably mounted uponthe base member 1 is a casing 7 which houses a winding spring 8 and encloses bearings for the lower end of a wind- 7 ing shaft 9. One end of thelspring 8 is anchored to the casing 7 and its other end is secured to the shaft 9, this shaft extending through the top of such casing and carrying on its upper end a winding arm 10.

The winding arm 10 has an extension 11 which carries a bracket 12, and such bracket revolubly supports a pully 13 which lies in a plane inclined towards the guide (pulley 14 positely extending part 29 the winding arm 10 has a centrifugal brake which consists of a pivoted lever 15, a renewable friction shoe 16, and a weight 17. The weight is normally held in a position which prevents the shoe 1-6 from .contacting with the ring 6 by a spring 18, but if. the arm 10 revolves too rapidly this weight will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force against the resistance offered by suchspring and the shoe 16 will come into contact with the ring, 6, thereby braking the motion of said arm and avoiding any damage to the cable. v

For holding the arm 10 in any desired position the pawls 19 are provided, such pawls being pivoted to said arm as at 20 and being adapted to cooperate with a fixed stop 21 which is attached to a non-revoluble part 22. When in use, the winding reel is preferably positioned in a substantially vertical plane (Fig. 1) and the stop 21 is located as shown in Fig. 4. If the arm 10- is permitted to revolve fairly rapidly the pawls 19 will be thrown outwardly to a limited extent by centrifugal force and will not engage with the stop 21, but if such 'arm is compelled to re- 11 an opa support desirably consisting of a rod 24 having a forked end 25 which revolubly mounts a pin 26. The ulley 27 is carried on a pin 28 which revolu lyconnects with the pin 26 and such pulley has a sheave 29 mounted upon an axle 30. Pivotally connected to the pulley 27 as at 31 are two guide devices 32 and 33, each of which has an eye 34 through which the cable 35 passes as it approaches and' leaves the sheave 29, such devices being free to move in every direction made neces sary. by the operation of the winding arm 10 and by the various possible directions .which the cable may have or assume when being wound or unwound in the manner more ,fully hereinafter described. In Fi 6 there is shown a modified arrangement be employed; instead of the guiding apparatus just explained. This consists of a pulley' 36 mounted a block 37, such block havin universal attaching parts and being 'provi ed withsubstantially circular guides 39 which are spaced apart to permit passage of a cable and have about the same function v as the devices 32 and 33 previously explained.

In use, one end of the cable may be secured to the drum 2 and substantially itsentire length then wound around such drum, its remote end being passed around the pulleys l3 and 27 (36) after the fashion shown in Fig. 1. When now the cable is unreeled, the arm 10 will be carriedaround or revolved and its shaft 9 will tension the sprin 8, such spring being of sufficient length an strong enough to completely rewind the said cable when permitted to do so. It is intended that the operator shall keep the cable taut during its rewinding, but ifsuch cable is completely released and the arm 10 tends to revolve at a speed whichmight cause damage to any part of the apparatus, the brake heretofore described will come into action and have the efiect of preventing the winding arm from attaining such excessive rate of speed; The guiding devices are so constructed and mounted as to allow of the necessary shifting of the cable vlength intermediate such devices and the pulley 13, and are also arranged to permit the outer end of the cable to be pulled in most any desired direction. But during such cable movements friction upon the cable is prevented, and its motion thereby made smoother, and abrasion or wear of its outside covering reduced to a minimum.

which may The arm 10 may be heldin any desired position and any. needed length of the cable thereby brought into use; the pawls 1.9 engaging with the stop 21 when the winding 'arm is compelled to turn slowly, and such pawls being thrown outwardly when said arm is ermitted to revolve more rapidly.

ther modes of a plying the principle of my. invention may eemployed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, rovided the means stated by any of the ollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention '1. In an apparatus for reeling a cable, the

combination of a stationary drum, spring operated means coaxially supported for windin a cable on suchdrum, and means for bra 'n such winding means, said braking means eing centrifugally actuated.

2. In apparatus for reeling .a cable, the combination of a stationary drum, .an arm co-axially supported for windinga cable on such drum, means for revolvin 'sai-d arm,

and means for braking the motion of such arm, said last-named means being efiective when the speed of such arm exceeds a predetermined max mum.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a drum, an arm revoluble about said drum for winding a'cable thereupon, -and' means 'for guiding such cable to said arm, said means comprising a centrally positioned pulley.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a drum, means for winding a cable upon such drum, and means for idin such'cable tov said windin means said guiding means comprising a swiveling pulley.

5. In cable reeling apparatus, the combination of a drum, means revolubly mounted with relation to said drum for winding a cable on said drum, and means for guiding such cable as it approaches and leaves said winding means, said means comprising a swiveling pulley, and additional guide means for maintaining portions of such cable in the plane of said pulley.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a drum, revoluble means for'rewinding a cable which previously had been rewound from such drum, a spring for turning said winding means, said spring being arranged to be tensioned by the unwind ing of said cable and efiectiv'e when -so tensioned to rewind'such cable, and means for controlling the motion of suchwinding means duringrewindingof such cable, said controlling means comprising a pivoted lever having a weight on oneend and a brake shoe on the 7 7. In a cable reeling apparatus, the combi nation of a stationary drum, co-axially supported sprin operated means for rewindin acable whic has been previously unwoun from such drum, and means for regulating the motion of such winding. means during 7 such rewinding.

8. In a cable reelin apparatus, the combi nation of a drum, a s aft mounted centrally with respect to said drum,'a radially extend 'ing 'arm attached to said arm, and wheel means co-axial with said drum adapted to guide a cable relatively to said arm.

9. In a cablereeling apparatus, the combi nation of a winding drum, a revoluble arm for winding a cable upon said drum, means for guiding such cable to said winding arm, said guiding means comprising a pulley swiveled co-axial with said drum, and means-carvried by said arm for regulating its speed.

' .10. In a cablereeling apparatus, the combi I nation of a winding drum, a revoluble arm for winding a cable 11 on said drum, means yfor guiding such ca 1e relatively to said drum, said means com risinga pulley swiveled co-axial with sai drum, a friction elementfor retarding excessive'speed of said arm, and a weight pivotally mounted'to actuate said friction element.

Y 11.- In a cable reeling ap aratus,the 'combination of a drum, a revolu le arm co-axially supported for, winding a cable upon said drum, a cable-guiding pulley swiveled co-axially with said drum, additional guides adjacent and movable with said pulley, a friction element pivotally mounted on said arm b a bell-crank-lever,.and a weight also carried by said lever and adapted to actuate the same centrifugally.

Signed by me, this 1st day of September,

CARLTON WARNE FILBY. 

